How to Become an Ordained Minister in Georgia
If you haven't yet become ordained with the Universal Life Church, that is the first step. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is fast, easy, and completely free. Once you have your minister license, you'll be eligible to officiate a wedding. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
Video Walkthrough: Performing a Wedding in Georgia
And that's just about everything you need to know to perform a successful wedding in Georgia! We get it – that was a lot of text to absorb. Did you know we have a full video series on how to get ordained to officiate a wedding in each state? Check out the video guide for performing a wedding in Georgia below!
Officiant Requirements in Georgia
The Georgia state flower, the Cherokee Rose
Contact the office of the probate court in the county where the wedding will take place (unlike in most states, marriage licenses in Georgia are issued by the probate courts). Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding, and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Rest assured that any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
How to Get a Georgia Marriage License
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. Based on the feedback we've received from our ministers in Georgia, we recommend ordering a Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state, there's a possibility the county clerk will ask you to present proof of your ordination. Keep in mind that the couple may also like to see your ordination credentials. Please place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid any complications.
How to Perform a Wedding
Licenses are issued by the probate court offices, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to know how marriage licenses work in Georgia and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Dekalb County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Dekalb County.
In Georgia, the license is valid for 30 days, and there is a mandatory 1-day waiting period between the time it is is picked up and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office after the ceremony. If the couple is headed off on their honeymoon, you might offer to return it for them.
Finalizing the Marriage
After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple and their two witnesses. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Last thing: make sure the signed license gets resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!
Georgia Marriage Laws
Marriage law in Georgia is primarily directed by by Title 19 of the state's Codified Statutes. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Georgia, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
(c) The license shall be directed to the Governor or any former Governor of this state, any judge, including judges of state and federal courts of record in this state, city recorder, magistrate, minister, or other person of any religious society or sect authorized by the rules of such society to perform the marriage ceremony; such license shall authorize the marriage of the persons therein named and require the Governor or any former Governor of this state, judge, city recorder, magistrate, minister, or other authorized person to return the license to the judge of the probate court with the certificate thereon as to the fact and date of marriage within 30 days after the date of the marriage. The license with the return thereon shall be recorded by the judge in a book kept by such judge for that purpose.
View the Georgia Statutes on the official government state website.
How Do you Legally Perform a Wedding in Georgia?
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